Ruins Advice?

[Sterlander]

I've been playing don't starve long past when the caves were first introduced. I had always been a bit scared to go in them, so I always passed them up, only going down for lightbulbs for my lantern. But I've to delve deeper into them... I think I've found the entrance to my ruins, but I'm unaware of how I should take it on. I've heard horror stories of shadow monkeys chasing players until the ends of the world and swarming them, and such.
If anyone could give me advice on how to safely approach the ruins and clear them out, I would appreciate it very much!

[queenelise9830]

The shadow monkeys are a thing, but only during Nightmare Cycle, so make sure to wait until the nightmare fissures are completely closed before passing any Monkey Pods. During the normal phase they act like Prime Apes from SW, not even dealing damage to health but having a tendancy to steal unguarded items. (Don't drop anything important near them and you're good.) As for deeper inside, the monkeys are replaced by clockworks and such once you're a bit inwards, but that's also where all the goodies are, so try to get the rooks to smash the others. Especially the bishops, because bishops are death like always. EDIT: Forgot to mention, if you're low on HP just run for it, it's not worth dying.

[Sterlander]

Publicado originalmente por kingedward9830:

The shadow monkeys are a thing, but only during Nightmare Cycle, so make sure to wait until the nightmare fissures are completely closed before passing any Monkey Pods. During the normal phase they act like Prime Apes from SW, not even dealing damage to health but having a tendancy to steal unguarded items. (Don't drop anything important near them and you're good.) As for deeper inside, the monkeys are replaced by clockworks and such once you're a bit inwards, but that's also where all the goodies are, so try to get the rooks to smash the others. Especially the bishops, because bishops are death like always. EDIT: Forgot to mention, if you're low on HP just run for it, it's not worth dying.

And is there a good way to gauge when the nightmare phase is about to begin? Something with the floor, right? Also, won't some monkeys still be aroudn once I destroy their huts? I kinda wanna get rid of them permanently, if possible.

[Ozzey_Lee]

To figure out the phases of the nightmare cycle listen for a tone that'll play whenever the cycle changes.

When trying to see if it's safe, look at the screen, the screen will be very blue similar to winter.
When it isn't blue but instead more grey, it is winding up
(basically if it isn't blue the cycle is in the warning phase)
When red objects appear vibrant red, shadows are spawning and splumonkeys are shadows
(Red items will have a red glow, while non-red items will appear redder)
The next cycle in line will remove the red glow and the grey color will return, but it is still dangerous so avoid it until the blue returns.

Basically two of the phases are safe phases (The Calm phase(Blue) and Warning phase(Grey)
And two of the phases are dangerous (The Nightmare phase(Red) and Cooldown phase(Grey)

While underground use your map to avoid all splumonkey pods if you happened to stay in the caves to long. Some will be very close to corners, but try and avoid as many as possible. Best way to avoid them is to burn all of them around a corner so that you can escape without them blocking you should you stay to long. Staying in the ruins isn't to bad as long as you avoid splumonkeys and nightmare fissures.

Try to avoid picking any wet mysterious plants as those are not bulbs but instead the cave worms. If it has rained recently do not pick any mysterious plants unless you are prepared to kill the worm that can emerge.

Once you understand all of the nightmare cycle living off of everything in the ruins becomes much more manageable.

Don't be afraid to ask anymore questions since I may have left something out.

[Sterlander]

Publicado originalmente por Ozzey_Lee:

To figure out the phases of the nightmare cycle listen for a tone that'll play whenever the cycle changes.

When trying to see if it's safe, look at the screen, the screen will be very blue similar to winter.
When it isn't blue but instead more grey, it is winding up
(basically if it isn't blue the cycle is in the warning phase)
When red objects appear vibrant red, shadows are spawning and splumonkeys are shadows
(Red items will have a red glow, while non-red items will appear redder)
The next cycle in line will remove the red glow and the grey color will return, but it is still dangerous so avoid it until the blue returns.

Basically two of the phases are safe phases (The Calm phase(Blue) and Warning phase(Grey)
And two of the phases are dangerous (The Nightmare phase(Red) and Cooldown phase(Grey)

While underground use your map to avoid all splumonkey pods if you happened to stay in the caves to long. Some will be very close to corners, but try and avoid as many as possible. Best way to avoid them is to burn all of them around a corner so that you can escape without them blocking you should you stay to long. Staying in the ruins isn't to bad as long as you avoid splumonkeys and nightmare fissures.

Try to avoid picking any wet mysterious plants as those are not bulbs but instead the cave worms. If it has rained recently do not pick any mysterious plants unless you are prepared to kill the worm that can emerge.

Once you understand all of the nightmare cycle living off of everything in the ruins becomes much more manageable.

Don't be afraid to ask anymore questions since I may have left something out.

Thank you very much! I have a couple more questions; Is there a way to go about taking out the Shadow Monkeys? I heard it's possible to take them on when they're in groups of 1-3, and they're easier to clear out during the nightmare phase, since you don't need to chase them down (as long as you bait them out in small groups.) Is this a good method?
And finally, if you could elaborate on Shadow Fissures, i'd love to hear it. I've never heard of them before

[Ozzey_Lee]

Starting with shadow fissures they are fairly basic, they let you know similar to the hue of the screen how close to the nightmare cycle you are. If the fissure it just a small crack with no light shining through, than you have nothing to worry about. As the cycle continues more and more red light will shine through the fissure until it begans to spawn shadow creatures.

If the fissure is closed it is safe, once it starts to open it is either winding up or winding down. The same effect will occur with the nightmare lights. Once they close all shadow creatures spawned from them will be eliminated. Though shadow creatures spawn from these things as long as you don't go to close to the shadow creatures they will not attack you, but be careful as they roam around a bit.

For the splumonkeys I only ever destroy the pods in my path first because the nightmare cycle tends to start and I so I don't have the time, normally you'll want to leave at least one of their pods for farming purposes. Taking them on in groups of 3 is possible as they can't stun lock you as much, however you will need to tank them or spend an unreasonable amount of time (for me at least) kiting them. Once you get their drops cook them in a crock pot into some healing thing.

Kiting them in small groups isn't difficult but if you get to many at any point they will follow you until you are dead, return to the surface, or the nightmare phase ends. That is to say that you will be running for a while because if they hit you once you are dead due to stun locks. if you are ever swarmed and for any reason can't return to the surface run.

It is a bit difficult to explain killing them but overall I really just avoid them and kill the small few that give chase hoping they don't.

[Sterlander]

Publicado originalmente por Ozzey_Lee:

Starting with shadow fissures they are fairly basic, they let you know similar to the hue of the screen how close to the nightmare cycle you are. If the fissure it just a small crack with no light shining through, than you have nothing to worry about. As the cycle continues more and more red light will shine through the fissure until it begans to spawn shadow creatures.

If the fissure is closed it is safe, once it starts to open it is either winding up or winding down. The same effect will occur with the nightmare lights. Once they close all shadow creatures spawned from them will be eliminated. Though shadow creatures spawn from these things as long as you don't go to close to the shadow creatures they will not attack you, but be careful as they roam around a bit.

For the splumonkeys I only ever destroy the pods in my path first because the nightmare cycle tends to start and I so I don't have the time, normally you'll want to leave at least one of their pods for farming purposes. Taking them on in groups of 3 is possible as they can't stun lock you as much, however you will need to tank them or spend an unreasonable amount of time (for me at least) kiting them. Once you get their drops cook them in a crock pot into some healing thing.

Kiting them in small groups isn't difficult but if you get to many at any point they will follow you until you are dead, return to the surface, or the nightmare phase ends. That is to say that you will be running for a while because if they hit you once you are dead due to stun locks. if you are ever swarmed and for any reason can't return to the surface run.

It is a bit difficult to explain killing them but overall I really just avoid them and kill the small few that give chase hoping they don't.

Alright, thank you! Finally, (I hope at least,) what kind of food items would you recommend? I'll probably just stock up on Jerky. Heals, lasts a while, and is easy to get.

[Retrolicious]

If you are really afraid of swarms of 8-10 shadow monkeys, try to bring weather pain. That is the quickest and best safe protection vs any weak swarms in DST!
Also when it is calm phase you can simply burn down with fire staffs the monkey huts or smash all with hammer. No hut = no shadow monkey :D

But best tip i can give you, grab a veteran friend or severals and ask them to please teach you ruins or give you a "tourist" ride. You learn best from fellow friends in this game. YT and guides are too passive and don't teach you the gameplay really.

Ruins need some time to get used to them. But once you raided them maybe 10+ times, you get the gist. Most important thing is to watch out for nightmare phase and see when the cracks open!

Good luck ^_^

[Sterlander]

Publicado originalmente por 󰀀 Redhead 󰀈:

If you are really afraid of swarms of 8-10 shadow monkeys, try to bring weather pain. That is the quickest and best safe protection vs any weak swarms in DST!
Also when it is calm phase you can simply burn down with fire staffs the monkey huts or smash all with hammer. No hut = no shadow monkey :D

But best tip i can give you, grab a veteran friend or severals and ask them to please teach you ruins or give you a "tourist" ride. You learn best from fellow friends in this game. YT and guides are too passive and don't teach you the gameplay really.

Ruins need some time to get used to them. But once you raided them maybe 10+ times, you get the gist. Most important thing is to watch out for nightmare phase and see when the cracks open!

Good luck ^_^

I'm doing this on a solo playthrough, but I'll consider that! Thank you all for the advice.

[Terra B Welch]

Publicado originalmente por 󰀀 Redhead 󰀈:

If you are really afraid of swarms of 8-10 shadow monkeys, try to bring weather pain. That is the quickest and best safe protection vs any weak swarms in DST!
Also when it is calm phase you can simply burn down with fire staffs the monkey huts or smash all with hammer. No hut = no shadow monkey :D

But best tip i can give you, grab a veteran friend or severals and ask them to please teach you ruins or give you a "tourist" ride. You learn best from fellow friends in this game. YT and guides are too passive and don't teach you the gameplay really.

Ruins need some time to get used to them. But once you raided them maybe 10+ times, you get the gist. Most important thing is to watch out for nightmare phase and see when the cracks open!

Good luck ^_^

A little birdie once told me that if you are getting chased by a shadow splumonkey train, to lure said train into the ruins and get a damaged rook's attention, the damaged rook can easilly kill off said train.

And by little birdie I mean I saw it on one of don gianni's youtube vids.

[Ete.RUN.KNIFEX.FAIL]

ur garbage

[Sterlander]

Publicado originalmente por maxhero30:

ur garbage

I completed the ruins already :p

[El_Tres]

You need moggles, that's the main thing. So you can see far out to avoid dangers. Glowberries will refuel moggles, little ones give 5-6% refuel, big ones you get from worms are around 39%. Bunnymen and rock lobsters will kill worms for you, but there are some tricks. Never have meat around bunnymen, and you have to feed rock lobsters minerals to fight for you.